Terror suspects arrested, interesting evidence

[Skeptic Ginger]

I don't know if there is a thread on this yet, but I noticed something interesting here that I think is incriminating.

3 arrested for false statements in terror probe (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090920/ap_on_re_us/us_nyc_terror)a Sept. 11 search of Zazi's rental car in New York turned up a laptop computer that contained an image of nine pages of handwritten notes. Those notes included formulas and instructions about how to build explosives, detonators and other components of a fusing circuit, according to the affidavits.

So why would the notes be in an image format? To get around data mining, of course.

Perhaps the Feds have some sophisticated OCR (optical character recognition) software in the data mining repertoire, or maybe it was other evidence that led them to these guys. Either way, image format bomb making instructions is a tad incriminating IMO.

[Puppycow]

Good point. After 9/11 I wouldn't have guessed that we could go so long without another terror attack, but it's looking like this is something that can be prevented by law enforcement work. Of course, we can't point to any one thing and say "This is why there hasn't been a terror attack in the US since 9/11," but it's a fact that there hasn't been one since the DoHS was formed.

[leftysergeant]

So why would the notes be in an image format? To get around data mining, of course.

Maybe, maybe not. It might have been that the notes were in Arabic and the addressee had his computer set up to recieve meesages only in Roman script.

I can't even recieve e-mails in Cyrillic script.

Also, drawings with hand-written notes are more useful than text only. Some times, that is the best way to send them, especially if, as i suggested, the computers on either end did not use the same script as the other.

[Skeptic Ginger]

Maybe, maybe not. It might have been that the notes were in Arabic and the addressee had his computer set up to recieve meesages only in Roman script.

I can't even recieve e-mails in Cyrillic script.

Also, drawings with hand-written notes are more useful than text only. Some times, that is the best way to send them, especially if, as i suggested, the computers on either end did not use the same script as the other.A remotely plausible possibility. Worth consideration, for sure.

Images can easily accompany text so that one is iffy. We'll have to see if the reports tell us if the instructions were in English. I'm wondering if it wouldn't have been reported in the news if the instructions were in Arabic? Seems like all the things painting these guys as Middle Easterners would have been in the interest selling of the news.

[Skeptic Ginger]

Here's the affidavit (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/N%20Zazi.pdf) accompanying the arrest warrant regarding the computer file. No mention of Arabic is made. One would think that would have been an important detail.During the search of the car, a laptop computer was found containing a jpeg image of nine-pages of handwritten notes. The handwritten notes contain formulations and instructions regarding the manufacture and handling of initiating explosives, main explosives charges, explosives detonators and components of a fuzing system.

I got the links to the affidavits from this NPR report. (http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2009/09/reaons_for_afghan_mens_terrorr.html)

[gtc]

I think lefty's suggestion is very plausible.

If the source document is someone's handwritten notes and drawings then scanning it or photographing it with a digital camera is the easiest way to get it onto a computer.

Not everyone is conversant enough with CAD or drawing programs to put together a text and drawings document.

The idea of an unsuccessful attempt to avoid OCR data-mining is also plausible.